Mark Becker will Claim Insanity at Trial on Eluding Charges

By Trish Mehaffey

Mark Becker, 24, of Parkersburg, has been charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of Ed Thomas.

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Aug 6, 2009 at 1:40 PM CST

Story Updated: Aug 6, 2009 at 1:40 PM CST

PARKERSBURG - Mark Becker plans to claim insanity and/or diminished responsibility in his eluding trial, as well as his first-degree murder trial.

Becker, 24, of accused of fatally shooting Ed Thomas, Aplington-Parkersburg football coach, on June 24, filed his notice Monday in Bulter County District Court.

Four days before Becker walked into a weightlifting session for players and shot Thomas, he led the Cedar Falls and Parkersburg police on a chase June 20. Becker allegedly broke out several windows in a Cedar Falls home with a baseball bat and drove a vehicle through a garage door.

Becker started the chase when police arrived at the damaged home. He headed towards Parkersburg on Highway 57 and then Parkersburg police joined the chase.

Police said Becker was going over 60 mph in a 35 mph speed zone, ran a stop sign and reached speeds up to 100 mph. The chase ended when Becker’s car hit a deer about six mile north of Parkersburg.

Becker, by court order, was then admitted to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation but was released June 23.

Becker’s murder trial is set for Sept. 15 and the eluding trial will be October 27.

He remains in the Cerro Gordo County Jail under a $1 million bond.

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